Two found dead from suspected murder-suicide in Columbus

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two were found dead in a suspected murder-suicide when Columbus police responded to reports of a neighbor's children unable to get inside their apartment.

At around 5:33 p.m., officers were called to the 2600 block of Lauffer Ravines Drive in the Northern Woods neighborhood for a well-being check. When they arrived at the scene, Columbus police reported finding two children, ages 6 and 8, who said they'd been unable to get into their apartment since the older two were dropped off by their school bus.

With help from a maintenance person, officers were able to get into the apartment. Once inside, they found a man and woman, both in their 30s, dead from apparent gunshot wounds.

Homicide detectives are currently investigating the deaths, but are treating it as a murder-suicide. They believe the man shot the woman before shooting himself. Their identities will be released once next of kin notifications have been made.

The children, including a 4-year-old who was still in school at the time, were taken to Franklin County Children Services because the family is not believed to be local to the area.